Page 7 of 474

Contents
Automatic transmission .....................  173
One-touch gearshifting.................  175
Gear ranges .................................  176
Gear selector lever position .........  177
Automatic shift program ..............  179
Driving tips ...................................  180
Steering wheel gearshift control 
(Speedshift) S 55 AMG.................  181
Manual shift program S 55 AMG ..  183
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  185
Good visibility ....................................  186
Headlamp cleaning system* 
(Standard on S 500, S 600, 
S 55 AMG)....................................  186
Rear view mirrors .........................  186
Electrically folding exterior 
rear view mirrors ..........................  188
Windshield wipers ........................  189
Sun visors ....................................  190
Rear window sunshade* ..............  191
Rear door window sunshade* ......  191Automatic climate control .................. 192
Setting the temperature................ 195
Adjusting air distribution............... 196
Adjusting air volume ..................... 198
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 198
Defrosting ..................................... 199
Air recirculation mode .................. 199
Charcoal filter ............................... 200
Rear window defroster .................. 201
Deactivating the climate 
control system .............................. 202
Air conditioning............................. 202
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 203
Ventilated storage compartment .. 204
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents....................... 204
Rear passenger compartment 
climate control* ............................ 205
Power windows .................................. 207
Opening and closing the power 
windows........................................ 207
Synchronizing the power 
windows........................................ 209
Summer opening feature .............. 209
Convenience closing feature......... 210Power tilt/sliding sunroof ..................  211
Opening and closing the power 
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 211
Synchronizing the power 
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 213
Driving systems ..................................  214
Cruise control ...............................  214
Distronic* ..................................... 217
Airmatic ........................................  229
Active Body Control (ABC)* ..........  231
Parktronic system* 
(Parking assist) ............................. 235
Loading .............................................. 240
Roof rack* ....................................  240
Loading instructions .....................  241
Cargo tie-down hooks ...................  241
Useful features ...................................  242
Vanity mirrors ...............................  242
Storage compartments .................  243
Ashtrays........................................  251
Cigarette lighters ..........................  252
Heated steering wheel* ................ 253
Telephone* ...................................  254
Tele Aid ......................................... 255
Garage door opener ......................  264
Infrared reflecting windshield .......  270 
     
        
        Page 29 of 474
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Switch for rear window 
sunshade
191
2
Parktronic* deactivation 
button
238
3
Airmatic or Active Body 
Control (ABC)* button
231
4
Level control button
233
5
Central locking switch
113
87
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
87
6
Hazard warning flasher 
on/off switch
136
7
Central unlocking switch
113
8
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP) control switch
83
Item
Page
9
Rear seat head restraints, 
switch for folding down
120
a
Tow-away alarm switch
90
b
COMAND system (see 
separate operating instruc-
tions)
c
Automatic climate control
206
d
Cover of:
Ashtray
Lighter
251
252 
     
        
        Page 93 of 474
91 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Automatic climate control
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features 
     
        
        Page 130 of 474

128 Controls in detailMemory function
You can store up to three different settings 
per SmartKey or SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*.
The following settings are saved for each 
stored position the driver's door: 
Driver’s seat and backrest position
Settings for the multicontour seat*
Steering wheel position
Exterior rear view mirror position
Automatic climate control
These key-dependent memory settings 
can be deactivated if desired. For informa-
tion on key-dependent memory settings, 
see “Setting key-dependency” 
(
page 169).The following settings are not key-depen-
dent. They are stored when using the but-
tons on the front passenger door:
Front passenger seat, backrest and 
head restraint position, and settings for 
multicontour seat*
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat 
height, seat position fore and aft, and 
seat backrest angle if necessary, to en-
sure adequate control, reach, and com-
fort. The head restraint should also be 
adjusted for proper height. See also the 
section on air bags (
page 61) for 
proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to 
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the inside and 
outside rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small 
children should be seated in a properly 
secured restraint system that complies 
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while 
driving. Activating the memory function 
while driving could cause the driver to lose 
control of the vehicle. 
     
        
        Page 194 of 474
192 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control 
     
        
        Page 195 of 474

193 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Item
1
Left center air vent, adjustable
2
Left air vent, fixed
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for left center air vent
4
Thumbwheel for air temperature 
control for center air vents
5
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for right center air vent 
6
Right air vent, fixed
7
Right center air vent, adjustable
8
Side defroster vent, fixed
9
Side air vent, adjustable
a
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for side air vents
b
Door air vent
c
Automatic climate control panel
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents in the 
footwell can be very hot or very cold (de-
pending on the set temperature). This may 
cause burns or frostbite on unprotected skin 
in the immediate area of the air vents. Al-
ways keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the footwell 
air vents. If necessary change the air flow 
using the air distribution controls to direct 
the air away from the footwell air vents 
(page 196).
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air vents 1, 7, 9 
to the middle position. 
     
        
        Page 196 of 474

194 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAutomatic climate control panel
The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can 
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The 
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature 
and the current outside temperature.
Item
1
Windshield defroster
2
Rear window defroster 
3
Display
4
Residual engine heat utilization 
(REST)
5
Automatic climate control on/off
6
Air distribution, right
7
AC cooling on/off
8
Right side temperature control
9
Air volume (automatic, manual)
a
Left side temperature control
b
Air recirculation
c
Air distribution, left
d
Activated charcoal filter
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents in the 
footwell can be very hot or very cold (de-
pending on the set temperature). This may 
cause burns or frostbite on unprotected skin 
in the immediate area of the air vents. Al-
ways keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the footwell 
air vents. If necessary change the air flow 
using the air distribution controls to direct 
the air away from the footwell air vents 
(page 196). 
     
        
        Page 197 of 474

195 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and 
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through 
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no 
cooling) if the ± mode is selected 
(page 202).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls aand8 
(page 194) to separately adjust the air 
temperature on each side of the passenger 
compartment. You should raise or lower 
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
Increasing/decreasing
Press button a or 8 repeatedly until 
the display shows the desired tempera-
ture.
The automatic climate control system 
will correspondingly adjust the interior 
air temperature.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up, 
impairing visibility and endangering you and 
others.
iThe current climate control settings 
(ON/OFF, temperature, air volume, ac-
tivated charcoal filter, etc.) are stored 
for each SmartKey before it is removed 
from the starter switch or when the ve-
hicle is locked using the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 108).
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate 
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the 
windshield free of snow, leaves, sticks, 
and any other debris.
Do not obstruct air volume by placing 
objects on the air volume-through ex-
haust slots below the rear window.
iWhen operating the climate control 
system in automatic mode, you will 
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.